Julian Hearne

Scotland’s biggest union is backing a campaign to get public transport moving in Glasgow.

Members of Unite the union’s community section have joined the Get Glasgow Moving campaign – which is pushing for an affordable, joined-up public transport network for the city.

Jamie Caldwell, Unite the Union’s Scotland Community Co-ordinator said: “Most people in Glasgow rely on public transport to get around, but the system is a total mess.

“A big part of the problem is that the fact that local people have hardly any control over local bus services run by private companies. Too often they are putting profit ahead of serving the public.

“Unite’s Haud the Bus campaign wants to have Scotland’s bus services placed back under regulation, so that we can work together to get the service we deserve.

“We also believe that now is the time to look at bringing all our buses back into public ownership, as they were in the days of Strathclyde Buses or the Glasgow Corporation. That would make a real difference to people in the city.”

Get Glasgow Moving has also got the support of the Bring Back British Rail campaign, set up by Glasgow-based activist Ellie Harrison.

Ellie said: “The privatisation of public transport has devastated Glasgow’s network. Other cities like Edinburgh have managed to keep publicly-owned bus operators, or publicly-owned governing bodies like Transport for London.

“That has helped ensure that services can still be run for the benefit of the people who live there. But Glasgow has failed.

“This meeting is the start of a huge new campaign to right the social injustices caused by privatisation and to fight for the fully-integrated publicly-owned public transport network, which the people of Glasgow deserve.”

Get Glasgow Moving is also supported by ‘Think Outside The Circle’ which is pushing for the extension of the Glasgow Subway.

The campaign’s Johanna MacLeod said: “The Glasgow Subway is the third oldest underground railway in the world, but it’s the only one in the world to have never been extended.

“To commemorate its 120th anniversary this December, we would like SPT and the Scottish Government to show their ambition for our Subway.

“Glasgow doesn’t need an underused novelty train set, but a great and extensive underground and overground rail network, providing Scotland’s largest city with the world-class transport system it deserves.”